Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Craig B Rogers

Lihua Chen

Richard Marlow

Yan Zhou

Dong Cao

A semiconductor assembly includes a power semiconductor, a housing containing the power semiconductor, and electrically conductive channels. The electrically conductive channels are arranged to direct coolant through the housing. Heat generated by the power semiconductor can therefore be absorbed by the coolant. The electrically conductive channels are also electrically connected with the power semiconductor to form terminals for the power semiconductor.

Semiconductor with integrated electrically conductive cooling channels

An exemplary electrified vehicle assembly includes a cable connected to an electrified vehicle battery. The cable has a coiled portion providing an inductor.

Electrified vehicle cable having an inductor portion

This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle including a transaxle with a cooling arrangement for semiconductor devices such as IGBTs or MOSFETs, and a corresponding method. In particular, this disclosure relates to a motor vehicle, such as an electrified vehicle, including a transaxle, a plurality of semiconductor devices mounted adjacent the transaxle, and a source of cooling fluid. The semiconductor devices are exposed to fluid from the source that flows into the transaxle.

Transaxle with semiconductor device cooling arrangement

A power system comprises a converter including an inductor core defining a gap, and a separator spanning the gap and contacting the core. The power system also includes a controller programmed to, responsive to a decrease in current ripple amplitude output by the converter to less than a first threshold, decrease power supplied by the converter. The first threshold is indicative of an inductance change through the core due to a temperature driven decrease in size of the separator.

Elimination of power inductor thermistor with variable air gap

A vehicle includes a power converter having an inductor electrically disposed between a traction battery and an electric machine. The vehicle includes a controller configured to reduce a power limit of the power converter. The reduction is responsive to an increase of a ratio of voltage across the inductor to a rate of change of current through the inductor.

Power converter temperature estimation

A method is provided for controlling a traction motor for an electrified vehicle, wherein the motor is driven by a pulse-width modulated inverter. A drive command from a driver of the vehicle is converted into a demanded torque. A substantially fixed DC link voltage is maintained from a DC power source. An input voltage for supplying to the inverter is calculated that causes the motor to deliver the demanded torque at a transition point between a constant-torque region and a field-weakening region of torque production. The voltage from the DC link is converted to the determined input voltage at an input to the inverter. By lowering the voltage applied to the inverter, switching losses and harmonic losses are reduced.

Hybrid-vehicle variable-voltage traction motor drive

Gate drive faults are detected for an inverter which comprises a phase switch having an insulated gate, such as an IGBT. A complementary transistor pair is adapted to receive a supply voltage and a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal to alternately charge and discharge the insulated gate. A comparator compares the voltage at the insulated gate with a reference voltage representing a gate drive fault to generate a first logic signal. A latch samples the first logic signal when the PWM signal has a value corresponding to charging the insulated gate. A logic circuit inhibits charging of the insulated gate when the latched logic signal indicates the gate drive fault. An insulated gate voltage less than the reference voltage is indicative of an under-voltage fault as well as other device failures of the IGBT or the complementary transistors.

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Melvindale, MI, United States of America

Craig B Rogers